Flex control device particularly for a motocross boot

ABSTRACT

A flex control device, for the quarter of a motocross boot, which comprises a soft upper provided at the rear with a semirigid cuff and a semirigid counter, which are connected respectively to the upper and to the upper and/or sole. The device is constituted by a first rod shaped element and a second rod shaped element, the first rod shaped element being rigidly coupled to the counter, the second one being selectively associable with the quarter, the first and second rod shaped elements being slidingly associated in contrast with at least one elastically deformable element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boots are currently used, particularly for practicing motocross, which comprise a soft upper with which stiffening and protection elements are associated; such elements are typically made of rigid plastic material, such as for example front plates, a toe cap, a heel counter and a rear cuff.

In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 6,826,853 granted on Dec. 7, 2004 discloses a sports shoe, particularly for the practice of motocross, which comprises a soft upper with the rear of which a semirigid cuff, which partially surrounds the lower part of the leg of the user, and a semirigid counter, which wraps around the heel of the user, are separately associated.

Such sports shoe comprises an additional semirigid element which is approximately cross-shaped so as to form two first wings, which are arranged approximately vertically and to the rear and longitudinally with respect to the upper, and two second wings, which are arranged approximately transversely to the upper so as to wrap laterally around the malleolar region.

The first two wings form respectively a first tab, which protrudes approximately vertically toward the overlying cuff, and a second tab, which protrudes approximately vertically towards the underlying counter, and engage slidingly respectively in first and second receptacles formed respectively in the cuff and in the counter.

A reinforcement element adapted to protect the malleoli is provided at the tips of the second wings, and third and fourth tabs protrude from said reinforcement element respectively toward the cuff and toward the counter and engage slidingly respectively third and fourth receptacles formed respectively in the cuff and in the counter.

The positioning distances between the counter, the semirigid element and the cuff allow the sliding engagement of the various tabs in the respective receptacles, so as to allow the foot of the user to perform both forward or backward flexing and lateral movement to the right or to the left or a combination thereof; said sports shoe allows the user to maintain very good foot insertion, to perform a correct and guided movement of the system formed by the foot and the ankle, and at the same time ensures support and protection of said foot and ankle.

Currently, in the practice of motocross it is common for the motorcyclist to stand for most of the time, resting on the footrests of the motorcycle with the region of the sole of the boot that corresponds to the forefoot and/or toes.

This riding position, particularly during landing after a jump, which is frequent during motocross, entails a large and sudden flexing of the tibia toward the toe of the foot, thus imparting considerable stresses to the Achilles tendon, which can lead to inflammation or even rupture thereof.

The above mentioned known types of boot, while being able to guide the movements of the foot and of the ankle, do not provide optimum protection to the Achilles tendon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above described problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by providing a device which allows to provide, particularly during the practice of motocross, adequate protection to the Achilles tendon of the user.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device which can be adapted quickly and easily to the various riding positions which can be adopted by each user and to the different shapes of the leg and of the foot of the various users.

Another object is to provide a device which is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a flex control device, particularly for the quarter of a motocross boot, which comprises a soft upper provided at the rear with a semirigid cuff and a semirigid counter, which are connected respectively to said upper and to said upper and/or sole, characterized in that it is constituted by a first rod-like element and a second rod-like element, the first rod-like element being rigidly coupled to said counter, the second one being selectively associable with said quarter, said first and second rod-like elements being slidingly associated in contrast with at least one elastically deformable element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motocross boot with a device according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cuff, of the counter and of the semirigid element of the boot of FIG. 1, with a device according to the invention applied thereto;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of a device according to the invention in two different operating conditions;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along a plane which passes through the longitudinal central axis of the device, of the cuff, counter and semirigid element of the boot of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of a detail of FIG. 5 in a different operating condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a motocross boot which comprises a soft upper 2, which is preferably shaped like an ankle-boot so as to form a lower portion 3, which during use covers the foot of the user, and a contiguous quarter 4, which affects the region from the ankle up to part of the tibia.

A sole 5 is associated in a lower region with the upper 2 and is provided at the rear with a heel 6.

A semirigid cuff 7 is rigidly associated or provided to the rear of the upper 2, in the region of the quarter 4, and during use wraps around the lower and rear part of the leg of the user.

A semirigid counter 8 is associated with the lower portion 3 of the upper 2 at the rear, at the region of the heel 6, surrounds the heel of the user during use and is connected to the upper 2 and/or the sole 5.

Advantageously but not necessarily, in a region which is intermediate between the counter 8 and the overlying cuff 7, a semirigid element 9 is associated or rigidly coupled to the upper 2 and is approximately cross-shaped so as to form two first wings 10 a, 10 b, which are arranged approximately vertically and to the rear and longitudinally with respect to the upper 2, and two second wings 11 a, 11 b, which are arranged approximately transversely to the upper 2, so as to wrap around, in a rear region, the adjacent region of the leg and laterally the malleoli.

The two first wings 10 a and 10 b form respectively a first upper tab 12, which protrudes approximately vertically toward the overlying cuff 7, and a second lower tab 13, which protrudes approximately vertically toward the underlying counter 8; said tabs engage slidingly respectively in first and second receptacles or seats, designated respectively by the reference numerals 14 and 15 and provided respectively within the cuff 7 and the counter 8.

Approximately at the tips of the second wings 11 a and 11 b there is a thicker region or reinforcement element 16, which is adapted to protect the malleoli and from which a third tab and a fourth tab, designated respectively by the reference numerals 17 and 18, protrude respectively toward the cuff 7 and the counter 8 and engage slidingly and respectively third and fourth receptacles or seats, which are not shown in the accompanying figures and are provided respectively inside the cuff 7 and the counter 8.

The boot 1 comprises at least one device 50 for controlling the flexing of the quarter 4, which is constituted advantageously by a first rod-like element and a second rod-like element, designated respectively by the reference numerals 19 and 20, which are respectively rigidly coupled to the counter 8 and selectively associable with said cuff.

Advantageously, the first rod-like element 19 and the second rod-like element 20 lie, during use, on planes which are substantially parallel and mutually spaced.

Advantageously, the first and second rod-like elements can slide freely with respect to the semirigid element 9, if provided, preferably without making direct contact therewith.

Advantageously, the first rod-like element 19 is constituted by a first strip 21, which is fixed inside the counter 8, for example by means of one or more fixing elements such as screws or rivets 22 associated with an appropriately provided first hole 23 which is formed at the end of the first strip 21, which is adjacent to the sole 5.

Two first rods, designated respectively by the reference numerals 24 a and 24 b, protrude axially toward the cuff 7 from the free end of the first strip 21 directed toward said cuff 7, preferably have an approximately circular cross-section, are substantially mutually parallel and lie approximately on the same plane of arrangement as the first strip 21; advantageously, the first free ends, designated respectively by the reference numerals 25 a and 25 b, of the first rods 24 a and 24 b are bent approximately at right angles on mutually opposite sides.

Advantageously, the first rod-like element 19 protrudes upward with respect to the counter 8 and is arranged so that the respective first rods 24 a and 24 b lie approximately at a central region of the semirigid element 9.

Advantageously, the first rod-like element 9 cooperates with appropriately provided first guiding means for guiding the sliding motion with respect to the counter 8, said first guiding means being constituted advantageously by a first bridge 26, which protrudes inside the counter 8 and surrounds, during use, the first strip 21, so as to keep it slidingly coupled to the counter 8.

Advantageously, the second rod-like element 20 comprises a second strip 27, which is slidingly and selectively associable with the cuff 7 by way of adjusting means for adjusting its position.

Two second rods, designated respectively by the reference numerals 28 a and 28 b, protrude axially from the end of the second strip 27 which is directed toward the counter 8, have a preferably approximately circular cross-section, are approximately mutually parallel, and lie approximately on the same plane of arrangement as the second strip 27; advantageously, the second free ends, designated respectively by the reference numerals 29 a and 29 b, of the second rods 28 a and 28 b are bent approximately at right angles on mutually opposite sides.

Advantageously, the second rod-like element 20 protrudes below the cuff 7, being arranged so that the respective second rods 28 a, 28 b lie at an approximately central region of the semirigid element 9, if provided, so that the second rods 28 a and 28 b are superimposed and spaced with respect to the first rods 24 a, 24 b of the first rod-like element 19; advantageously, the second free ends 29 a, 29 b of the second rods 28 a, 28 b are positioned at a lower height than the first free ends 25 a, 25 b of the contiguous first rods 24 a, 24 b.

Advantageously, the position of the second strip 27 with respect to the cuff 7 is guided by appropriately provided second guiding means, which are constituted advantageously by a second bridge 30, which protrudes inside the cuff 7 and surrounds, during use, the second strip 27, so as to keep it slidingly coupled to the cuff 7.

The first and second rod-like elements are mutually slidingly associated in contrast with at least one elastically deformable element, which is constituted advantageously by at least one spring 31 which is arranged coaxially to the first and second rods and is interposed between the first and second free ends of said first and second rods.

Advantageously, the spring 31 is preloaded, so that it applies constantly a thrust to the first and second free ends of the first and second rods, respectively; the thrust of the spring 31 tends to move the first free ends 25 a, 25 b away from the second free ends 29 a, 29 b, so as to move mutually closer, in the longitudinal direction, the first strip 21 and the second strip 27.

Advantageously, the means for adjusting the position of the second rod-like element 20 with respect to the cuff 7 are constituted by a plate 32, which is approximately U-shaped in plan view so as to form an approximately flat base 33, which during use is arranged approximately parallel to the second strip 27 on the opposite side with respect to the cuff 7.

A pin 34 protrudes approximately at right angles to the base 33 toward the second strip 27 and can engage selectively, during use, one of one or more second holes 35 which are provided in the second strip 27 and are advantageously aligned approximately along the longitudinal central axis of said strip.

Two arms, designated respectively by the reference numerals 36 a and 36 b, protrude at right angles to the base 33 and are arranged during use so as to surround laterally the second strip 27, protruding with their respective free ends through two appropriately provided slots 37 a, 37 b formed in the cuff 7.

The mutual distance between the base 33 and the second strip 27 can be adjusted by way of appropriate distance adjustment means, so as to allow insertion or extraction of the pin 34 with respect to the chosen hole among the second holes 35.

Said adjustment means are constituted advantageously by a lever 38, which is arranged outside the cuff 7 and is supported rotatably between the free ends of the arms 36 a and 36 b.

The lever 38 is cam-shaped at its region for pivoting to the arms 36 a and 36 b; its interaction with the outer surface of the cuff 7 allows to vary the distance of the base 33 from the latter and therefore from the second strip 27.

By turning the lever 38 alternately clockwise or counterclockwise, the base 33 moves respectively toward or away from the second strip 27 and the pin 34 is consequently inserted in, or extracted from, one of the second holes 35, so as to rigidly couple or disengage the second rod-like element 20 with respect to the cuff 7.

Operation is therefore as follows: with reference to the accompanying figures, by turning the lever 38 in the appropriate direction (for example counterclockwise in the case of the accompanying figures), it is possible to achieve the escape of the pin 34 from the second hole 35 in which it was accommodated, thus allowing to modify the position of the second rod-like element 20 in an axial direction with respect to the cuff 7.

By increasing the distance between the second rod-like element 20 and the counter 8, the degree of compression of the spring 31 is increased and the effort required to move mutually apart the first and second strips is therefore increased; vice versa, by reducing the distance between the second rod-like element 20 and the counter 8, the spring 31 reduces its degree of preloading, and a smaller effort is sufficient to move mutually apart the first and second strips.

By fixing the pin 34, by way of an appropriate rotation of the lever 38, in a chosen second hole 35, it is therefore possible to adjust the position of the second rod-like element 20 with respect to the cuff 7, and therefore with respect to the counter 8, so as to achieve the intended degree of preloading of the spring 31.

The flexing of the quarter 4, and therefore of the cuff 7 rigidly coupled thereto, so as to reduce the angle formed by the quarter 4 with the sole 5, spaces the second strip 27, which is fixed to the cuff 7, from the first strip 21, which is fixed to the counter 8, consequently compressing the spring 31; said spring tends to return elastically to its non-deformed condition, so as to move mutually closer the first and second strips, thus contrasting the flexing of the quarter 4 and absorbing most of the stresses that might be imparted to the Achilles tendon of the user.

It has thus been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a device having been devised which allows to control the flexing of the quarter of a motocross boot so as to ensure adequate protection both of the foot and of the ankle of the user, and in particular of the Achilles tendon of said user, at the same time allowing the foot and the ankle to perform all the movements required to control the motorcycle.

Further, the possibility to adjust the degree of preloading of the spring allows to achieve a chosen degree of control of the flexing of the quarter, so as to adapt for example to the various riding positions assumed and to the various body shapes of the users.

Moreover, the production costs of the device according to the invention remain low, since it is provided by means of components which are easy to manufacture and/or assemble.

The terms “substantially” and “approximately” as herein used are meant to indicate that the features to which they refer have the characteristics indicated but for the normal tolerances from shape, arrangement, position or dimensions which are known as usual by those skilled in the pertinent art.

The invention is of course susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2006A000009 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A flex control device, for a quarter of a motocross boot, having a sole and a soft upper, the upper provided at a rear part thereof, with a semirigid cuff and a semirigid counter which are connected, respectively, to said upper and to said upper and/or sole, the control device being constituted by a first rod shaped element, a second rod shaped element and at least one elastically deformable element, the first rod shaped element being rigidly coupled to said counter, the second one being selectively connectable with said quarter, said first and second rod-shaped elements being slidingly associated in contrast with said at least one elastically deformable element.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second rod shaped elements are arranged so as to lie, during use, on substantially mutually parallel planes.
 3. The device of claim 2, comprising at least one fixing element constituted by a screw or a rivet, said first rod shaped element comprising a first strip which is fixed to said counter by way of said at least one screw or rivet associated with a first hole provided at an end of said first strip which is adjacent to said sole.
 4. The device of claim 3, comprising two first rods that protrude axially toward said cuff from a free end of said first strip, which is directed toward said cuff, said first rods having a substantially circular cross-section, being generally parallel to each other and being arranged approximately on a same plane of arrangement as said first strip, first free ends of said first rods being bent at right angles on mutually opposite sides.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first rod shaped element protrudes above said counter and is arranged with said first said rods thereof lying in an intermediate region between said counter and said cuff.
 6. The device of claim 5, comprising first guiding means, said first rod shaped element cooperating with said first guiding means for guiding sliding thereof with respect to said counter.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first guiding means are constituted by a first bridge which protrudes inside said counter and surrounds, during use, said first strip so as to keep the first strip slidingly rigidly coupled to said counter.
 8. The device of claim 4, comprising adjusting means, said second rod shaped element comprising a second strip, which is slidingly and selectively connectable with said cuff by way of said adjusting means for adjusting a position thereof.
 9. The device of claim 8, comprising two second rods, having a circular cross-section, that protrude axially from an end of said second strip which is directed toward said counter, said second rods being substantially mutually parallel and being arranged on a same plane of arrangement as said second strip, second free ends of said second rods being bent at right angles on mutually opposite sides.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said second rod shaped element is provided so as to protrude below said cuff, arranged with said second rods thereof in a region which is intermediate between said counter and said cuff, said second rods being superimposed and spaced with respect to said first rods of said first rod shaped element, said second free ends of said second rods being arranged at a lower height than said first free ends of said first rods that are contiguous thereto.
 11. The device of claim 9, comprising second guiding means provided so as to guide a position of said second strip with respect to said cuff.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein said second means are constituted by a second bridge, which protrudes inside said cuff and surrounds, during use, said second strip, so as to keep the second strip slidingly rigidly coupled to said cuff.
 13. The device of claim 9, wherein said at least one elastically deformable element is constituted by at least one spring which is arranged coaxially to said first and second rods and is interposed between said first and second free ends thereof.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said spring is preloaded so as to constantly push said first and second free ends of said first and second rods, respectively, a thrust of said spring tending to space said first free ends from said second free ends, so as to move mutually closer, in a longitudinal direction, said first strip and said second strip.
 15. The device of claim 8, wherein said adjusting means for adjusting the position of said second rod shaped element with respect to said cuff are constituted by a plate, which is U-shaped in plan view so as to form a flat base which, during use, is arranged parallel to said second strip, on an opposite side with respect to said cuff.
 16. The device of claim 15, comprising second holes provided in said second strip which are aligned along a longitudinal central axis of said second strip and at least one pin that protrudes at right angles to said base toward said second strip and is selectively engageable, during use, in at least one of said second holes.
 17. The device of claim 16, comprising two arms that protrude at right angles to said base and, during use, are arranged so as to surround laterally said second strip and protrude with respective free ends thereof through two appropriately provided slots formed in said cuff.
 18. The device of claim 17, comprising distance adjusting means, a mutual distance between said base and said second strip being adjustable by way of said distance adjustment means, so as to allow insertion or extraction of said at least one pin with respect to at least one of said second holes.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein said distance adjustment means is constituted by a lever which is arranged outside said cuff and is supported rotatably between the free ends of said arms.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein said lever is cam-shaped at a region thereof suitable for pivoting to said arms, so that an interaction thereof with an outer surface of said cuff allows to vary a distance of said base from said cuff and from said second strip.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein said lever is suitable for actuation by rotation, alternately clockwise or counter clockwise, so that said base is moved respectively toward or away from said second strip and said at least one pin is consequently inserted or extracted with respect to at least one of said second holes, so as to rigidly couple or disengage said second rod shaped element with respect to said cuff. 